I recently stumbled across a BBC article about how much coffee you should drink per day (link below). As someone who has grown quite fond of coffee over the last year, it peaked my interest. So, what did I learn?

First, a brief back story. Over the last year I have transitioned from regular intake of craft beer to one of coffee. This was for several reasons, namely a combination of burn out and fitness. In other words, I could no longer justify the alcohol and empty calories intake while training for cycling events. So, beer became less of a focus and more of the occasional treat.

Then came coffee. What started off as a morning cup of French Roast Starbucks blossomed into an 3-5 cup a day obsession with the Kona region of Hawaii (among others). As my caffeine intake increased, I started to wonder if I was doing anything detrimental to my health. Everyone knows that too much caffeine can be harmful, but how much is too much?

Luckily, it seems that I was already in the perfect range at 3-5 cups a day. I always drink my coffee black, so I don't have any sugar or calorie concerns. As an added bonus, coffee comes with a large dose of polyphenols, which reduce the chances of heart disease, dementia, and stroke. Coupled with numerous antioxidants and a slew of other health benefits, coffee is a true wonder beverage.

With that, the conclusion should come as no surprise: coffee is great for you, but in reasonable quantities and without added sugar or cream. So, I can stick with my 3-5 cups per day and continue sampling my way around the world. Finally, a vice that is actually good for me.